I have succumbed.

I am not a good patient. In fact, I am a terrible patient. I’m the opposite of a man with Man Flu who goes to bed for a week to read Viz: I’m a mother with the Mother of All Colds, and as such I must soldier on, pretending that I’m not ill, making breakfasts for 3 small people who think snow is fun, cooking for my in-laws and writing next year’s best-selling novel.
(I am also aware that not all men with flu have Man Flu, just to be clear. Some men get the Mother of all Colds and soldier on too, just wearing boxers, not thongs…we hope.)

Here’s what I do: at the first signs of possible impending illness, I go to for a run. The theory is this: if I’m only a weeny bit ill, then sweating the invaders out will a) make me feel much better because endorphins are my drug of choice and b) get rid of the little buggers.

Sadly, if I actually AM ill, then going for a run wipes me out good and proper, and I feel like a prime dipstick.

Today, I feel like a prime dipstick. I am coughing, and sniffing, and shivering and wheezing, drinking Lemsip like it’s gluehwein, watching as my nose dries to a crisp and turns red…..AND trying to look after my three children who are on holiday, when really someone should be looking after me. Except I don’t deserve it, because I am a dipstick, who brought this upon herself.

I deserve to have snowballs thrown at me while wearing only a tea towel and some slippers.

So, people, when you feel the winter bugs are upon you, don’t go for a run. Don’t pretend you’re not ill. Don’t be Super-parent-gunning-for-a-reward-that-will-never-come. Instead, wrap up, sit down, drink a hot toddy and go to bed. Preferably with several copies of Elle Deco and a hot water bottle.

Hm, interesting, because I am of the “go for a run” school of thought as well. I too hate being ill – mum of three children so like you, don’t have time to be ill. This morning I woke feeling groggy so left Husband doing breakfast and went running in the gym then in the steamroom, to blast all germs away. Who knows how I will wake up tomorrow. Hope you feel better, it’s horrid being ill, especially at Christmas when we are all supposed to be deliriously happy.